By eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor
Rate: (20 Ratings)
Luminaries are little candle lanterns made from small paper bags that line a walkway or driveway. In the Southwest, it's traditional to use brown paper bags at Christmastime; here we make colorful luminaries that will give your home that special holiday glow.
eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 I was in a rush to make luminaries on Saint Patrick's day to decorate where I was to propose to my wife, and finding sand in our town wasn't easy. But we had plenty of kitty litter! So instead, I filled all the bags using kitty litter and a very handy litter scoop- it worked just as well as sand ever would, and probably smelled nicer too (though I never really took the time to notice- I was busy proposing). Litter, simple candles, and brown lunch bags were a beautiful effect by the lake- and neighbors all around asked later if it was an Irish tradition of ours!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 You can make a luminary out of old food cans, which makes them more resistant to wind. They won't blow over and cause a fire!
Save an old can, punch holes in it with a nail and hammer, and then spray paint it black (or whichever color you choose). Then fill and put the candle in just like as you would with a bag!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you can find a partially shaped round glass or ceramic luminaries at a craft store, you can use puff paint or other medium to decorate the luminaries as ornaments. It's a great project to do with the kids.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you take either one large craft punch or several small ones (of a snowflake shape, for instance) and punch the front of the luminary bag, it gives a pretty "die cut" look to the luminary.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Fold over the top edge of the bag approximately 1 inch. This keeps the bags more "square". White bags look great.